Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children The Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
It's satisfying to read a manifesto that you totally agree with. Lenore Skenazy's impassioned and thoughtful rant/plea/how-to guide urges parents to stop worrying about every little head-bump and nonexistent kidnapper and let children move freely through the neighborhood and accomplish age-appropriate and individual-appropriate tasks for themselves, for the good of both parents and children. She manages to condemn the irrational anxiety of parenting culture while being gentle with individuals who have fallen into it. Skenazy's easygoing writing style makes it look easy, but her background in journalism shows in the carefully-researched statistics and interviews with experts that back up her claims. I wish I could give separate ratings for content and writing. I agree strongly with 95% of Skenazy's complaints about American parenting and hope to apply some of her lessons and recommendations to my own. However, I really don't know how well her writing worked in a book format - I think I would have enjoyed and appreciated it more in a shorter format: essays, blog posts, etc. I did think her A-Z list of ridiculous fears was effective.
What do You think about Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children The Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry (2009)?
I'm convinced that this should become required reading. Not just for parents... For everyone.
—nbajaj1
I LOVED this book. I think every parent in America should read it.
—Bobbob
Great quick read. All the parents should read it.
—trixlestrange
